Allentown shoplifting suspect faces slew of charges

The driver accused of hitting a police officer and a school van while trying to avoid a retail theft arrest Wednesday in Allentown faces almost a dozen criminal charges.

Eugenea M. Lawson-Mbiu, 43, of Allentown fled from the Family Dollar, 1431 Allen St., following a retail theft report, hitting officer James Stanko, who had ordered her to shut off her vehicle, according to court records. Stanko had a broken finger and other injuries, authorities said.

According to a criminal complaint:

Lawson-Mbiu fled the store's parking lot and headed east on Allen Street at high speed. She ran several stop signs and traffic lights on the wet road and crashed into a Student First van at Ninth Street.

Lawson-Mbiu ran and tried to go into a home in the 500 block of Ninth but was arrested. She fought with police and threw a pill bottle at an officer.

Police found cocaine in Lawson-Mbiu's purse and determined she had a suspended driver's license.

Lawson-Mbiu, of 210 N. Seventh St., was charged with two counts each of aggravated assault and reckless endangerment, and one count each of simple assault, retail theft, resisting arrest, possession of cocaine, possession of drug paraphernalia, accidents involving death or injury while not properly licensed, fleeing or attempting to elude police and four traffic violations.

She was arraigned by Senior District Judge Charles Crawford and sent to Lehigh County Prison under $25,000 bail.

Police said Lawson-Mbiu was trying to steal about $30 worth of air fresheners.